Who Is Your Favorite Kami?

J

Jebadiah_Smith

Joined
Jul 28, 2004
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878
Maybe this has been asked before, but I just had to know where everyone stands.

Who is your favorite Kami and why?

No wimping out and writing multiple names!



My vote goes to Kumar. Nice big handles, a large sweet spot, great with the brass fittings, and all of his blades that I have ever held just have a magical feel. Kumar is the man.
 
Sergeant Karka, hands down. Why? The good Sgt. makes the absolute best khuks that HI sells IMO!
 
I only own a bura and a kumar. But from what I've seen I would have to say sgt. Karka.

Low cho creep and non habaki bolsters.
 
Sargent Karka #2 Bura. I just have one of the Sgt's but it is heads and shoulders above almost anything else I have both in style and construction
 
If I had held a Sgt. Karka blade I might change my mind, but I'm a real fan of Bura. Good, hard working blades with a thinner edge than a lot of the other kamis... Even though it's not as durable as a fat convex, it still chops wood like there's no tomorrow and doesn't bind either.
 
Hamon said:
I'm a real fan of Bura. Good, hard working blades with a thinner edge than a lot of the other kamis... Even though it's not as durable as a fat convex, it still chops wood like there's no tomorrow and doesn't bind either.
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For sure Bura makes the best edge of the HI Kamis. 2 of his that I have had were too soft though. However the way you characterize it is exactly right. It's thin enough great penetration but doesn't bind. I think Amtrak does great hardening, and I like Sher's handles but their edges are too fat for me. With the fatter or steeper edge I have to make a wider notch when chopping something thick. With the thinner edge like Bura's I don't find I have to make as wide of a notch.
 
Bura hammers lines that you can almost use as a ruler.

Kesar made nice smaller diameter handles on average.

Sgt. Karka pays good attention to the details on all parts of the knife.

I have a Durba BAS that feels like it grew out of my wrist. So, I'd say whoever makes something that feels good in the hand and has a comfortble handle is my favorite.

I figure the finish and lines are nice, but once you start banging the knife around in wood and lose the shiny finish, it's the fit that matters most.
 
Dunno...

Sometimes you get a really good one by a kami and sometimes you get one that lacks "inspiration". These can usually be modified to suit though.

Picking kamis are like picking stocks. There was a time when Jim Clifton drove up the price of Durba stock. Then there was the Bura craze where everyone was looking for a Bura. Now the price of Sgt. Karka stock has gone through the roof.

I reckon it's partly a features thing. The seargent is making stuff that has features that a lot of us wanted. No creepy chos, no markings, no habaki bolsters, satin finish, convex-like edge and steel fittings. (and nice soapy smelling sheath)

Ah.. steel fittings... no more smelly hands. :)

Supply, demand, blah blah.

If tomorrow, Bura made a similar knife we'd want one of his, because he produced the features that we wanted.

So, if I were lookin' to buy a khukuri tomorrow, I'd probably look for a Karka. Just because I hate stinky brass hands. :rolleyes:
 
BruiseLeee said:
Ah.. steel fittings... no more smelly hands. :)

Supply, demand, blah blah.

If tomorrow, Bura made a similar knife we'd want one of his, because he produced the features that we wanted.

So, if I were lookin' to buy a khukuri tomorrow, I'd probably look for a Karka. Just because I hate stinky brass hands. :rolleyes:
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Me too my friend, me too!:D
That is why the YCS came with silver furniture! :cool:
I hate brass!:barf:
 
You can call it a whimp out, but if I get a Sher or Kumar I'm fine. With Sher I know it is brutally strong. With Kumar I know it is strong and pretty.

If I made the Last Stand With Khuk in Hand, I guess I'd feel best with a Sher, but that's mostly just sweet sentiment.

I have post stroke Bura's that are every bit as good as pre stroke. Bura's lines when he's in form are the best. Even better than Kumar's.



munk
 
Just had a boo-boo and hope this isn't a double post. ;)

This is a difficult question to answer. Out of my first four HI purchases, only 3 were khuks and two of them were made by Raju (?). One (a 16.5" Chiruwa AK) is my most used khuk, although not my favorite. The other is a 20" AK that gets called out for the tough work. Both are nice. Both do their jobs exceptionally well. I would not say that Raju is my favorite kami. You probably won't hear anyone say that Raju is their favorite kami but as far as I'm concerned, he built me a pair of perfect AK's and I have no complaints. I have a Kumar (as in, made by Kumar) Kobra; needless to say, I can't think of anything to say about that either. It speaks for itself. I've given some things away to people made by several kamis that are all as close to perfection as an object needs to be. I had no complaints. Neither did the recipients.

If someone were to corner me on the topic, I'd say that Bura is my favorite kami. All of the non-khuk HI products in my possession (two Napoleons, one Rose, one AK Bowie) are his work. While I can sometimes find fault in the design, I cannot find fault in the execution. Technical perfection, or at least as close to it as possible. I don't own any of his khuks as of yet although at least one is on the way. His non-khuk works, to me, are flawless, and that's the majority of what I own.

If I had to make a second choice, it would definitely be the good Sergeant Karka. All of my Karka purchases have gone to others as gifts. All were excellent. If we're talking strictly about the market for smaller decorative khuks, I believe he's the best.

I think that I've said so before and I'll say it again just in case - the kami who makes what I purchase is not important to me. I know that it will be good. Whether I like the design or not is on me but as far as execution is concerned, I have no worries. There will be an unbeatable warranty on it, there will be an unbeatable family of knowledgeable HIKV addicts to supply advice, and there will be an unbeatable man making it all happen.

I don't care which name is on the khuk. I know it will be good.

:) , in case that came off too seriously.
 
Satori said:
Out of my first four HI purchases, only 3 were khuks and two of them were made by Raju (?).
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Satori, never heard of Raju.:confused: What kind of mark is on the khukuri?
Actually I can't think of a kami's name that is even close. Gang, am I missing something here?:confused: :rolleyes: ;) Could it possibly be Sanu? That's the closest I can come up with.
Or could this possibly be the Amtrak kami? Even with all that's came and gone I can't figure the name Raju.:grumpy:
 
I do believe that it's the one we like to call Amtrak... R.R. and a swastika, and on the kami page, it lists Raju as having a swastika as his mark.
 
Hamon said:
I do believe that it's the one we like to call Amtrak... R.R. and a swastika, and on the kami page, it lists Raju as having a swastika as his mark.
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Thanks Hamon. The Spinning Timbers used to also be an ndn symbol but it was put to rest after Hitler desecrated it, I think it was done by 3 tribes but to be certain I would have to look in my books.
Personally I like the symbol and wish I had a khuk by Raju.
Sure glad you cleared that up!:D ;)
 
Swastika was also norse symbol of good luck. Spinning hammer of Thor. That might even be the specific one Hitler ripped off. Too bad, cool symbol.

Nam
 
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